Today I am back with another installment of my travel photos series from Vatican City in Rome. Vatican City may be small (110 acres) but it more than makes up for it with stunningly impressive sites. Since words can’t properly describe the sites I will jump right into the pictures I took in April, 2011 during a trip with my wife.

St. Peter’s Basilica (***** – Regardless of how little time you have in Rome, St. Peter’s should be on any schedule)

Close view of St. Peter’s (if you look closely in the center steps in front the basilica you can see Pope Benedict XVI performing Easter Sunday Mass)

Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square presided over by the Pope.

St. Peter’s Basilica (this picture was taken from the top of the Castel Sant’Angelo)

View of St. Peter’s from Castel Sant’Angelo

Interior of St. Peter’s Basilica

Castel Sant’Angelo (*** – Worth it for the views alone)

Passetto (Pope’s passageway from the Castel Sant’Angelo to St. Peters Basilica)

Tip: The Vatican Museum is probably one of the best in the world and with that comes extremely long lines during peak travel periods. To reduce wait time (and therefore increase your time spent doing more enjoyable activities) get there very early when the museum opens if possible. This will allow you to spend the rest of the day sightseeing in Rome, versus waiting in the heat to get in!

I am back again with another post in my Travel Photos series, this time from Milan. I traveled to Milan in May, 2010, while touring through Northern Italy, Austria and Southern Germany. I have a deep appreciation for Italian culture and certainly enjoyed the more businesslike approach that is taken in Milan. Enjoy!

The Duomo (***** – Incredible both inside and out)

The Duomo (little further away in the square)

Interior of Duomo

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (** – Worth it to venture inside since it is next to Duomo)